Aquino, NDRRMC to honor Robredo retrieval team, ‘monsoon heroes’

President Benigno Aquino III will award today the heroes who responded in times of calamities including those who helped during the onslaught of the southwest monsoon and in the search operations for the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo.

The Chief Executive is scheduled to confer the “Bakas Parangal,” an award institutionalized and given by the National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) to those who showed “exemplary and extraordinary acts of selflessness in reaching out to those who are in urgent need of assistance in times of calamities and disasters.”

NDRRMC Executive Director Benito Ramos said the Bakas Parangal awards would serve as a reminder that the selfless acts during times of need would not remain unrecognized.

The NDRRMC said “Bakas,” which roughly means “imprint,” is also an acronym of the words “Bayaning Likas.” The awards will be given later afternoon in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City and is divided into three categories.

Category I or the Bakas Parangal ng Kadakilaan is given to honor the noble service of units or groups and organizations who participated in rescue efforts despite the difficult situations.

Category II or the Bakas Parangal ng Kabayanihan is given to the leader of a unit or group that “exhibited exemplary acts of heroism beyond their call of duty.”

Category III or the Bakas Parangal ng Kagitingan is given to individuals who “exhibited extraordinary acts of bravery by extending assistance to those in need in times of disaster beyond the call of duty.”

Aquino will present the third category to the members of Task Force Kalihim including the divers who helped in locating and retrieving the bodies of Robredo and pilot Jessup Bahinting from the wreckage of the ill-fated Piper Seneca plane.

The agencies and private groups who, beyond their duties, assisted those who were pummeled by the southwest monsoon are included in the third category of the awards. (Emmanuel Louis Bacani/Sunnex)